Frustration is a word that doesn’t even begin to describe the mood in the Canucks’ room anymore.

They knew going into this season that they were mostly focused on entertaining. There would be tough losses, no doubt. There would be games where, really, they didn’t have a chance.

But it wasn’t going to be like this.

After a fun, fine and promising October, the Canucks’ season has gone pear-shaped.

They’re playing entertaining hockey, but they’re not getting any bounces. And now they’re losing in ways that are just an inch or two away from true gut punches.

December, what have you got?

White Towel Podcast

A day after the Canucks latest frustrating loss, Patrick Johnston and Harrison Mooney get together to ponder just what is it that’s eluding the home team. The coach says he likes the team’s process, but what about the playoffs?

Not surprisingly, Travis Green wasn’t happy with how the sequence unfolded, saying three guys were at fault.

Not hard to guess who.

On the game itself, Green used the classic criticism sandwich:

“Tough to lose a game that way. I thought we played a hell of a game. One of our better games of the year,” he said. “We made a couple mistakes on a few of their goals that I’m not happy about, that I’d like to have back. But it was a step in the right direction.”

Even flow

Not a ton to pick between these two squads:

But when you break down the shots into their context — like where they’re taken while the team was ahead or behind — we do see that Vegas had more good performances than the Canucks did (you want to be up in that top-right corner on this chart):

Horvat the horse

Green didn’t really want to get into individual performances when I asked about Horvat post-game. Fair enough.

But his top centre played nearly 20 minutes at even strength.

He was a positive shot-attempts player when up against the Vegas top line of Pacioretty-Eakin-Tuch, but oddly struggled against the third line of Carrier-Bellemare-Reaves.

Go figure.

Anyway, he put his team on his shoulders and created two goals, one on a rush with Alex Edler (more about that below); the second Brock Boeser’s tap-in at the side of the net, off a Gagner pass following an impressive puck battle win by Horvat.

(Side note, Boeser said he made sure to celebrate extra hard to get the referee’s attention when the puck was quickly cleared from the line.)

Those damned skates

Markstrom just laughed on Saturday when I asked him about a Kings goal that bounced in off a pair of Canucks skates.

“Those have been going in all year,” he said.

I didn’t ask him about the Carrier goal tonight, because you knew the answer would be the same.

His coach is feeling for his goalie, who is doing lots right but who is having too many cases of bad luck or straight up being left hung out to dry by his defence.

“I don’t know. I don’t think he had a chance on a lot of them tonight; obviously he’s had a couple go off skates,” Green said. “I’m not gonna put down Marky, he gives us everything he has every night and I think he’s played pretty well this year.”

Eagle’s nest

Alex Edler scored a great goal, banging in a rebound created by Bo Horvat.

Bo Horvat banks the puck off of Marc-Andre Fleury's pad to setup Alexander Edler with an easy tap-in goal to get the #Canucks within, down 3-2. pic.twitter.com/sghAevC12L

The guys who think a lot about penalty killing insist that the Granlund/Schaller duo must end.

Seeing a goal like this is an example.

Granlund has now been on the ice for 16 shorthanded goals against, leading the league in a tie with Chris Tanev. (The Canucks have yielded 25 goals total when down a man.)

ICYMI, I wrote last week about how the Canucks can improve on their PK. Splitting Granny and Schaller was a recommendation. VAN have allowed four PK goals against where they've been on the ice together since that piece.https://t.co/6BSwRofoxWpic.twitter.com/Y2TK5Orn3o

Motte PK shift

On the other hand, Tyler Motte had a great early penalty-killing shift. He made a crucial play near the side boards to help get the puck out, then at the other end of the ice he forced Marc-Andre Fleury to mishandle the puck then worked the puck toward the net, and in the process forced Vegas defenceman Collin Miller into taking a slashing call.

That’s the ninth penalty he’s drawn this year. He hasn’t taken any himself and he’s leading the Canucks’ forwards in hits.

Hits don’t mean a lot, since they’re also a reflection of you not having the puck, but there’s no doubt that Motte is playing a physical game that’s been very, very clean.

Long bomb

Did Tim Schaller trip himself or get tripped? Sure looks to me like he was trip, since Miller also fell over.

Spin-a-DJ

So by now, you know the Canucks made an old change up in the DJ booth.

After four years spinning music at Rogers, out is DJ Jay Swing. In is DJ Barron S.

Owner’s choice.

After Barron S played Chelsea Dagger, the longtime Chicago Blackhawks goal song, late in Tuesday’s game against the Kings, the response from fans was, to say the least, outrage.

The rivalry between the Canucks and the Hawks may now be just in the history books, but it’s clear fans haven’t forgotten.

In the aftermath, we got this from the owner:

As I used to say to my students: don’t be sorry, don’t make the mistake in the first place. Think ahead. Get it right the first time.

Institutional memory helps. Maybe keeping a list of music that shouldn’t be played, ever, would help too.

Then, Thursday afternoon, we got this:

Don't shoot the messenger, but just heard there will be a new DJ in the house for tonight's Canucks game..

Doubling back. Canucks have reached out and denied this is the case. And once again, I kinda can't believe this is a story. Then again, we all saw that last game, what else we gonna talk about? https://t.co/dduI7hYL1N

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has released its last budget before the fall federal election

This Week's Flyers

Comments

Postmedia is pleased to bring you a new commenting experience. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. Visit our community guidelines for more information.